Since becoming the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama has followed a different path in several policy issues, including foreign relations. One of the most prominent aspects of Obama’s foreign policy is that he and his State Department team are open to dialogue and they approach the issues with an understanding of the positions of the concerned parties. This perspective enables them to communicate with the countries which may have conflicting positions in different issues.
The appointment of Richard Holbrook, a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, as a special envoy to Afghanistan; trying to reach out to Iran with offers to start a dialogue; and significant changes in the US administration’s attitude toward detainees suspected of terrorism are among some of those policy changes.
Another significant aspect of the new US foreign policy is its ability to enlist and empower dialogue with countries like Turkey.
Turkey’s Role in Delicate Issues
Turkey has historically had a unique position in the Middle East, and given this background, it has played the role of arbitrator in the region for years. Turkey has been among the few countries which could communicate with Israel and the Arab countries, as well as with the Palestinian leadership. The effectiveness of the role that Turkey has played in the Middle East throughout history might have its ups and downs, but the feelings of the people in the Middle East toward Turkey have never changed.
Turkey is a country which has been showing the world that even in difficult circumstances it can criticize policies of any country if they are not in accordance with universally accepted values. Even in cases where there might be collateral damage in terms of foreign relations, such perception and understanding has proven itself to be a righteous option. At the recent Davos summit, the Turkish Prime Minister’s critical approach to Israeli policy toward Gaza led to enormous support from the Middle East public sphere as well as from the international community.
Moreover, Turkey has not had a double standard approach to cases which involve the disproportionate use of force or the targeting of civilians. In that respect Turkey perceives Israel to be at fault for using disproportionate force and targeting civilians in its so-called counterterrorism operations in Gaza. Similarly Turkey also has criticized Hamas for its reluctance to stop rocket attacks against Israeli territories.
As a country which has signed all the United Nations resolutions addressing counterterrorism issues, Turkey is also a role model for other countries.
More importantly, in spite of the problems within the country, including terrorism, Turkey has been the most stable country in the Middle East. Due to its experience with all kinds of terrorism, Turkey has developed a different kind of counterterrorism strategy whose focal point rests in respecting human rights and the integrity of human value.
Another example is the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where Turkish military forces provide services for people who, unlike other foreign forces, do not consider Turkish military personnel as an invading force.
Not only can Turkey talk to the leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey can also bring these states, which currently have serious problems, to the same table. Again in the case of Russia-Georgia conflict, Turkey was the one which acted swiftly to reach out to both parties.
Whether it is the history, the culture, religion, or regional dynamics, the reality is that Turkey always has the upper hand when it comes to enlisting dialogue among the countries in the region. Of course this is not something for granted. This advantage, if you will, is grounded in the foundation of a democratic state, which is in the process of accession to the EU, could show leadership in crisis situations, and is willing to show its dedication to peace and stability.
Common Grounds for Turkey and the US
Naturally the US and the EU members have their own interest in the region, and particularly the US has long history of involving itself in the region’s politics. The terrorist attacks against the US on 9/11, the previous ones in Africa and the others in the Middle East have been justified by the terrorists as a reaction to the US policies toward the countries of the region. In other words, every policy decision of the US has found a response in several ways, both negative and positive.
Considering the aforementioned points, there are common grounds for both Turkey and the US in terms of politics in the Middle East and Central Asia. Besides being long time allies, these two countries now have different kind of mission.
Lately, the new administration in Washington has indicated a significant deviation from the previous administration in their approach to foreign policy issues. To realize a positive climate in the Middle East, the Obama administration should be more communicative than the previous administration. In that respect President Obama’s recent phone calls to the President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are important. On the phone, Obama addressed the fact that Turkey has the leadership role in the region. The importance of this call lies in the fact that since the Davos meeting Prime Minister Erdogan has been harshly criticized by some of the foreign media as well as by some experts in the country. However, this phone call says otherwise.
What is to be done?
To realize regional stability, the US should work with Turkey with more of a cooperative approach rather than with just burden-sharing expectations. It is not something that both parties will need to develop; it is something they have put into practice before. The US should not dictate its plans and strategies to other countries, including Turkey. Regional policies especially should be developed through working together. In other words, the consultation and implementation stages should be worked through together; however, these lie within the responsibility of the US.
Obama heightened the expectations in his country and abroad. To fulfill such enormous expectations, it is a must for him to actually work with countries like Turkey to broaden the stability in the region.
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